Protecting device



J. H. FRIEDMAN PROTECTING DEVICE I Feb. Z5 1926.

.Filed Dec. 18 1924 1N VENTOR. Jacob/ fha BY Q fp 070759/ Patented Feb. 23, i926.

l Aunirse stares arent ori-sica.

JACOB E. FRIEDMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

. rnorncrine nnvicn.

Application aienecember'is, 1924. serial No. 756,664.

To all 'whom it may concern.' t

Be it known that I, J .ecos H. FRIEDMAN,

a citizen -of the United States, residing at.

New York city, county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Protecting Device, of which the 'followr ing is a specification.j

This invention is a protecting device adapted more particularly to partake of a 10 form of Wearingy apparent for the purpose of.

protecting those parts of the body which are covered thereby from the bullets of gunshot and small arms and the object of the invention is to provide a construction which is light and can be comfortably worn without undue burden by policemen, soldiers and others who may be exposed to dangers of the character refered to. s

In a bread sense, the invention consists in a protecting device constructed of metal, fabric, and metal impregnated fiber, the metal and fiber having an interlocked overlapping relation to render the construction relatively pliable While permitting freedom of movement of the body of the wearer, the parts being so fabricated as to withstand the impact of bullets dischargedv from rides, as Well as from small arms.

An important feature of the invention resides in its relatively light Weight and flexibility and 'its usefulness in carrying out its .intended functions Without unduly encumberiiig the wearer.

The invention also includes the method of making the device, said method being highly novel and conducive to high eliiciency in the finished article.

Features of the invention, .other than those adverted to, will be apparent from-'the hereinafter detailed description and claims, When read in conjunction With the accoml panying drawing. N

The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction therein shown is to be understoodas illustrative, only, and not as delining the limits of the invention.

Figures 1 to 6 show consecutive steps in carrying out the method of this invention and the different material used in the malring thereof.

Figure? is a perspective view showingthe method of assembly of the parts; and,

Figure 8 shows a chest protector constructed in accordance with the present invention.

In making a protecting device in accordance with this invention, I start with a suitable quantity of fiber, such as is known to the trade in general as Wood pulp Wool. This liber is of a light and iiuy nature and of relatively open texture. A. body of it is shown in Figure l. l i

The first step of the process consists in impregnating this liber with some suitable substance which will have an adhesive eiect between the individual fibers and after thus impregiiatiiig the material and While the adhesive substance is still iii a Wet or moist condition, said material is subjected to great.

pressure. so that the material is pressed into the relatively thin layer shown in Figure 2. The adhesive in the material dries or hardens and maintains this relatively thin layer' of substantially uniform thickness in this condition.

I next immerse this layer of material in a bath of molten aluminum and, because of the absorbent character of the material, the aluminum immediately penetrates the interstices thereof and forms in effect a homogenous bond therewith. The immersion is of short duration and the layer is thereupon Withdrawn from the molten metal in a condition vvwherein the material is impregnated with the metal and is covered with a surface coating of aluminum. A dipped sheet is shown in Figure 3.

At the conclusion of this operation, the sheet of Figure 3 is slit longitudinally along the lines l to form it into strips 2, one of which is shown in Figure 4, and each of these strips is bent upon itself along its medial line 3. After having made a sutlicient number of Istrips 2 and bent them in the mannerdescribed, I next take a sheet of an aluminum alloy of very light Weight and tough texture.

The al1oy,known to the trade as aluminum durralio, has been found to give very excellent results and a sheet of this matter -I cut into stri )s 4, such as shown in Figure 5, and ben each strip along its medial line 5 in the same manner as I previously vbend the strips 2.

Having formed as many strips 4.- as there are strips 2 and having bent them as described, I associate a strip 4 with the strip 2 after the manner shown in Figure 6, from which it will be 'seen that the bent strips interlit or interlock with respect to one another` so as to forni, in eiilect, four plies alterfnately metal and metal impregnated wood pulp? wool. The combination assembly may be referred to as a protecting unit.

In accordance With the present invention a large number of these units are assembled with respect to one another in lapping relation and are mounted in any suitable and a convenient manner in this relation so that they can be readily applied in the making of a garment to be Worn by persons subjected to danger.

A. very convenient manner of mounting is shown in Figure 7 wherein 6 is a piece of canvas or other suitable fabric to one surface of which is sewed by lines ol stitches 7 a succession of overlapping sheaths 8, these sheaths being assembled on the fabric backing 6 after the manner of shingles. Into each of the sheaths is slipped one of the protective units and the sheaths serve to main- 8@ tain said protective units in overlapped relation to one another, as will be clearly apparent from Figure 7. If desired, a layer O :fabric may be placed over the sheaths and sevved down at the free ends thereof although, in practice, it is entirely satisfactor to leave the sheaths uncovered.

iter forming the construction ofFigure 7 in the manner described, it is cut to proper contour or in practice thebacking 6 and sheaths 8 can be out to proper contour before introducing the protecting units and the units cut to proper length before assembly. This 1s optional.

Y While the construction may be associated Jfor different purposes, I have shown for illustration in Figure 8, the device as madeV into a chest protector. The same is provided with a suitable binding 9 around its edges which serves to produce a finished edge and to maintain the protecting units in position. Stra sections 10 and 1l, the former of whic is provided with buckles, are illustrative of any suitable means :for vattaching the device about the body and a neck strap 12 may be associated with the garment and when passed about the neck will support the garment against Working down on the body.

It will of course be understood that if a back protector is desired in addition to the chest protector, the same is formed in like manner with strap sections or other convenient attaching means and the lateral edges of the back sections secured to the lateral edges of the front section. I wish it understood, however, that the particular shape of the garment or the manner in which vit 1s Worn may vary Within wide ranges Without departing from the spirit of this invention, which is directed more particularly to the structural features of the assembly.

It will appear that in the finished article the elements of the construction have an interloeked overlapped relation which 8G results in etlectual protection against the penetration by bullets. The exterior surface has the appearance of bellow plaiting and is pleasing to the eye.

I have not attempted to specify partic- 8g ular thicknesses of the strips 2 or 4 as these thicknesses may vary Without departing from the spirit of this invention. The material should, however, be sufliciently heavy to preclude penetration by bullets. 9G

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in its preferred practice orm, but inasmuch as the construction is capable of changes in details Without departing from the spirit of the invention, this invention is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, whatl claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: A

1. In an assembly ,of the character described, the combination of a plurality of overlapping protecting units secured in overlapped relation and each of which units embodies a plurality of interitted il shaped wil stri s.

2.Pn an assembly of the character deH scribed, the combination of a plurality' of overlapping protecting units secured in overlapped relation and each of which units 11@ embodies interiitted U-shaped strips of metal and metal impregnated liber.

3. InA an assembly of the character de scribed, the combination of a plurality oril rotecting units mounted in overlapped reation to one another and each oi which units embodies a metallic strip of U-shaped cross section interfitted with a metal impregnated Wood pulp wool strip of U-shaped cross section.

4:. In an assembly of the character described, the combination of a suitable backing, a lurality of protecting unit-s mounted on tllie backing in overlapped relation and each of which units embodies a stri of metal and an interlocked strip of meta impregnated Wood pul wool.

5. In an assemb y of the character described, the combination oa backing of flexible material, a plurality of sheaths 13G mounted on one face of the backing in overwhich are filled with aluminum and which lapping relation to one another, and a wool is coated with aluminum. protecting unit housid in each sheath and 8. A protective garment embodying inembodying interloeked strips of metal and terlocked and overlapping strips of metal 5 metal impregnated wood pulp wool. and metal impregnated wood pulp Wool.

' 6. A protective garment embodying Wood In testimony whereof I have signed the pulp Wool impregnated with metal. foregoing specification.

7. A protective garment embodying compressed-wood pulp wool, the interstlces of JACOB H. FRIEDMAN. 

